Tank-riser closure



lNVENTOR .22 azzzer L. C. ELLER TANK RISER CLOSURE Original Filed April 11, 1927 Dec. 25, 1928.

ATTORNEY i a novel type of closure structure for tank with any ordina i'tatented p... 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES i 1,696,754 PATENT OFFICE.

IKDU G. ELLEB, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOB, BY DIRECT AND MESNE AS- SIGN'KENT, TO LOCKIT .CAPCOMPANY, A CORPORATION WASHINGTON.

TANK-RISER cnosinm.

Application filed April 11, 1921, Serial 1%. 182,827. Renewed October 11, 1928.

The object of this invention is to provide risers and the device of this invention is particularly designed for the risers of gasoline and radiator risers of automobiles.

feature of theinvention consists 1n a navel form of anchorage for the structure as-hereby the latter will be so effectively secured to the riser that it cannot be removed mechanical expedients, and in this connection, the anchorage feature involves a band structure adapted to outwardl engage the riser.

A esture of special novelt resides 1n a form of locking screw head w ich, after beg turned home into a. final locking position, not be released with the same implement that was employed to turn it, home.

A further feature resides in a spring. which normally acts to seat the closure so as always insure coverage of the riser against the entrance of foreign matter thereto, and in this ccnnection, it is a further feature to employ locking device that will automatically func-' tion to lock the closure seated when the 7 features that will be more fully printed out in and by the appen spring has forced the closure into a closing pzrsiticn. v

The invention'has many other ob'ects and ascribed connection with the accompanying draw- .a and which will be more articularly ed claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1, is a view 1n slde elevation showing t the most improved form of my invention.

g, 2, is a sectional view on line 22 with the closure seated. 3. 8, is a sectional view on line 3-3 of is a plan view of the device. .5, is a sectional view on line 5 of I As shown, a riser is indicated at 1 and the has an inturned flange 2, the crown of which acts as a seat for the closure. The

periphery of the riser is usually threadedto a certain depth but the device of my mvention is not dependent upon a threaded connection as it is arran ed and constructed to coact either with a t readed or smooth exterior surface.

I will first describe my novel form of band anchorage before proceeding with a description of the cap or closure structure,

This portion of the device involves what I will term an adapter anchoring band 3, which as shown, is a continuous annular strip and is so. equipped that it can be a apted to a wide range of. risers irres ective of threaded or smooth surfaces an irrespective of variations and irregularities in diameters, within reasonable ranges. This band, 3, fits over the riser 1, as shown, near the top of the latter, and is provided with an annular bead 4, adapted to receive the flanges of those types of risers which are turned outwardly instead of inwardly. It also functions to'strengthen the band 3. The band 3, is provided with an offset portion 5, into which the annular bead 4 merges.

' and transversely of the band, or in its normal position, vertically thereof, said ofiset POT'NH'W tion is suitably tapered as shown in Fig. 2}

the upper and lower terminals being open. I preferably do not thread the interior of' said offset locking portion 5. A coactinglocking element is emplo ed which is shown in the form of a tapere screw 6, which is threaded and desirably case hardened and "which is proportioned in length and taper to fit in the portion 5 and coact with that portion of the eripher of the riser 1, adjacent thereto. en the band 3, is positioned, as shown, the screw 6 is turned into the tapered ortion 5, and the case hardened threads cut into the threaded o smooth periphery of the riser 1 and the stock of the band 3, in a manner not only to form an efiective anchorage but also to tighten the band 3 about theriser 1. The tapered form of these coacting anchoring elements .efi'ords a sufficient range to enable the band 3 to be firmly anc accuracies of sizes.

I will next describe a novel feature of said screw 6, whereby the same serves as a protective element.

ceive the reduced end of a screw driver. This slot is formed between walls 8 and .9, of the stock of the screw, and I chamfer ofi wall 8, as shown at 10, and wall 9, as 110 ored-irrespective of variations and in- 00 The upper end of the screw 6, is provided -with a screw driver slot 7 adapted to return screw 6 because the portions 10 and 11 are reduced and merge Into the stock of the screw at such a low elevation that they form no gri for the screw driver.- Thus, it will now he seen thatwhen the screw 6,

15 has once been turned home, it is self looked a inst being surreptitiously removed.

This novel form of head ve interde ndently coacts with the multi ations 0 the case hardened threads. which the screw 6 cuts in the offset portion and on the riser,

to prevent withdrawal of the screw. .1 therefore claim the screw in combination with thedevice as shown, and separately, as an article of manufacture. y 1

I will next describe my improved closure band and the various functions it performs.

Said closure band is indicated-at 15, and

i it extends about more than one half of the circumference of the riser, in factit is 3" shown extending to nearly the. complete circumference, the terminal-ends 16 and-17, thereof, being bent outwardly to form hin ears, as shown. This band 15 is preferah ins aced relation to band 3, andis provide with upperand lower inwardl can tending flanges 18 and 19, respectively,

terminating at 20, for engagement with the upper and lower .edges, respectively, ,of

band 3, to-hold the bands in assembled relation. The inner edges of flanges 18 and19,

- engage the pen'phe of the riser','-whenin place thereon, an therebyfact to hold the band 15 in concentric relation therewith. Thus, it will be seenthat thebands 3 and 15 are initially in loose relation with respect to each other and. that. thevcan-berotativel adjusted within the iordedy the terminal ends 20, of the flanges 18 and 19. on opposite sides of the offset 5.-- At a int diametrically opposite -the, ears lfijan 17 Iprovidetheband'15 jwith an"outstruok' portion 21, which is I, adapted "to form-a keeper and-coact with a,

' closure locking devicethat will bepresently described... I I

*A feature-of my'invention is embodied in an over-arm st Lucture which I, will next describeTn detail. a, My improved over-arm is shown tobe of U-shaped cross section having a bight or i i I web'22 and side flanges 23'. The len h'of said over-arm is such that it spans-t e diameter ofthe closure and riser extending from, one diametrical point to anotheu,

The over-arm web is terminated at24 and '27, the ends 28 and 29 of which are over hinged connection, as shown; At the oppoas shown in Fig. 2, any p having an upward, crown 39 provided with a; connection s'eat 40; I have shown-con having. a "head 42 limit 'af-I' 'to form a tightclosure;

:ployed, the bight 48 being looped a out the rivet'shaft 4:1 andbearing' upon the wall or seat connection .tOu The limbs 49 extend inserts the flanges thereof are shaped .to form hinge cars 25 and 26, which, in the present construction, outerlap ears 16 and 17, and coact therewith by means of a hollow pin'tle turned against ears'16 and 17 to form a site end of thearm, I mount a latch 30, which is pivoted on a,rod 31 that, is mounted in flanges 23.. The latch .end of the over-arm, as indicated at 32, is. curved on a radius of which the axis of rod 31 is the center, so that the latch 30can move into and out of a locking position. Said latch has a latch portion 33 which coacts with keeper 21, and is so disposed with respect to rod 31, that when in lockin enga ement,

51 to the over-arm, would tend merely to increase instead of decreasing the locking action. Said latch is provided with an opening 34, adapted to receive the shackle of a padlock or other locking device for locking the latch against opening movement from the position shown in Fig. 2.. A thumb grip 35, is available when it is desired to release latch 30,. from the. keeper 21. 1 provide a spring36, mounted on the over-arm, and

having a free end 37, engaging latch 39,- t0 normally urge the latchinto alocking position. m f a I-wi]l next describe my improved closure device and the functions it performs.

.; Said closure comprises an. upper wall 33 m0 nection meansin the form -of a rivet -41 engaging the over-arm an f-the shank passing downwardly through the over-arm and the wall 39, and the lower head 43 engagin the seat 40.113: may he stated that the s am: of said rivet passes.

sufliciently loosely through wall 39, to afiord vent. 'A bafile 44, having a vent 45,

forms apart of the closure and the margin 46, is turned downwardly, as shown. A 5 gasket 47, is suitably fixed to the closure and is'of a nature to yield when brought into engagement with the riser seat, in order It is a' feature of myv invention to provide a fining normallyfactmg to seat .the closure an I'willnow describe the same. h 4 Asshown, a single length sprin is em rearwardly below arm portion 22 and are wound about the hollow pintle 27, as shown, W the free ends 50, bein hooked under cars it i and 17, as a means 0 anchorage.

.- 'In practice,this closing spring is of sullfi cient strength to snap the closure into a 1 seated position with sulficient impact to ice cushion and compress the gasket 47 enough to permit the latch 30 to snap into locking engagement with the keeper 21. Thus, in actual use, the spring closed cap is locked so that agitation of the contents splashing upwardly against the baflle 44, cannot open the closure. Further, the function of the closing spring has been performed, when it seats the closure, and thereafter, it has no further oflice to perform. It will be noted that when the gasket 47, has been compressed, as shown in .Fig. 2, that the head 43 while I have herein shown one specific form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim:

1. A tank closure structure for tanks having a riser comprising, an anchoring adapter band ada ted to outwardly telescope the riser and liiaving a conical offset portion, a case hardened conical screw adapted tobe .turned into said offset portion and into engagement with the periphery of said riser to lock said band on the atter, and a closure structure for said riser.

2. In a closure structure for tanks having a riser comprising, an anchoring adapter band adapted to outwardly telescope the riser and having anofiset ortion, a case hardened screw adapted. to e turned into said ofiset portion to coact with the latter and a portion of the periphery of said riser "to lock said band on said riser, a closure structure for said riser, and means for movably:i mounting said closure structure on said 3. In a closure structure for tanks having a riser, a closure device having a lower perforated bafile for venting the tanks contents, said closure having a top wall, an over-arm, means connecting said over-arm with said top wall, and a device for locking said pver-arm to seat said closure device under pressure sufiiciently to loosen said means and afiord vent through said top wall.

4. In a closure structure for a tank riser, an adapter anchoring band adapted to be fi xed to a riser, a closure band in circumferential spaced relation to said anchoring band and having up or and lower inturned flanges enga ing t e upper and lower ed es, respectlvely, of said anchoring band to old said bands in assembled relation and the inner ed es of said flangesbeing adapted for'peripheral engagement with the riser to maintain said bands in concentric relation, and a closure for said riser hinged to said closure band.

5. In a closure structure for a tank riser, an adapter anchoring band adapted to be fixed to the riser, a closure band in circumferential s aced relation to said anchoring band and liaving flan ed engagement with the latter to hold sai bands in assembled relation but normall free for rotative adjustment and the en s of said closure band projecting in parallel relation to form hinge ears, a closure for said riser, an over-arm having ears disposed abreast of said closure ears and pivoted thereto, means for connecting said closure to said over-arm, and a spring actuated latch on said over-arm for locking engagemept with said closure band.

6. In a closure structure for a tank riser, a band structure adapted to be fixed to the riser and having a keeper, a closure for-said riser, an over-arm hinged at one diametrical point of said band structure from said keeper, and having a spring actuated latch for engagement with said keeper, a gasket between said closure and riser, and a spring normall actin to close or seat said closure with su cient impact to compress said gasket enough to lock said latch with said keeper.

7. In a closure structure for a tank riser, a band structure adapted to be fixed to the riser and having a keeper, a closure for the riser, an over-arm hinged to said bandstructure and havin a latch for coaction with saidkeeper, an a springfor closing said closure with suificient impact to-engage said latch with said keeper.

8. A tank closure structure for a tank riser includin an anchoring band surrounding the riser and having a conical offset portion, and 'a case hardened conical' -lo ck said band on the riser.

In testimon that I claim the foregoin as my own, I ereby afiix my signature.

LOU c. ELLER. I 

